Mexico City shopping: The ultimate shopping guide for Mexico City 

Stepping into Xinú Perfumes is an olfactory adventure, where botanical fragrances that pay homage to regional materials like copal, agave, marigold and Mexican tuberose represent the artefacts of a sophisticated explorer. Fragrant excitement aside, the Xinú Perfumes studio treats all the senses with attention to detail, from its theatrically lit atelier to its certified walnut bottles. And Xinú’s story of artistry, craftsmanship and botanical tradition is interwoven with sustainability.

When you arrive at Xinú Perfumes in the trend-setting Polanco neighbourhood of Ciudad de México, you’ll walk through a discreet entrance and a dimly lit hallway to a black-painted staircase, which leads to a spacious room surrounded by manicured gardens. In this showroom – designed by innovative interior designers Ignacio Cadena and Héctor Esrawe – your eyes will be drawn by redirected beams of natural light to the perfumes and olfactive devices that take centre stage. The hustle of CDMX Mexico City disappears into thin air as you test botanical scents in what seems to be an urban oasis. Owner, Verónica Alejandra Peña Austin, creates formulas that celebrate the aromatic botany and olfactory richness of The Americas. The Ummo fragrance, for example, contains a heady mix of tonka bean, jasmine tobacco flower, cedarwood, honey and amber resin. Besides its signature scents, Xinú Perfumes is home to collections by names such as Givaudan’s Rodrigo Flores-Roux, one of Latin American’s only formally trained perfumers.

Since 2001, Chic By Accident has been one of CDMX Mexico City’s must-visit destinations for eclectic arts, crafts and vintage furniture. Painted Mexican masks, velvet Art Deco sofas, clay sculptures and antique brass candlesticks showcase the bold, varied aesthetics of 20th-century Mexican design.

Emmanuel Picault – the French founder that now calls CDMX Mexico City home – works with flea-market vendors through to private collectors to transform all four floors of a 1920’s townhouse into a store that doubles as a gallery and meeting point for the international interior design crowd. If you love vintage furniture and all the artsy crafts to match, you’ll find what you need at Chic By Accident in Ciudad de México.

Walk into the green terrazzo-floored sitting room at Chic By Accident, and you’ll immediately notice Picault’s predilection for contrast. Displays of Mexican masks coincide with vintage elements like a tape and rubber pendant lamp, a 1930’s Oaxacan Art Deco vase, and a hand-crafted mahogany sofa set, all illuminated by sunlight shining through the glass roof above. Other notable collections found inside Picault’s townhouse-turned-gallery include mid-century Guadalajara ceramics, Vissio-designed glass onyx vases, and Olmec colossal head fiberglass reproductions.

Onora sources handmade home goods, traditional handicrafts and accessories inspired by Mexico’s rich cultural heritage and plethora of identities, such as Purepechá, Tztotzil and Zapoteco. While rooted in Mexico’s ancestral legacy, Onora’s artisan-designed crafts are created for the rituals of modern life. Think handwoven copper baskets, lacquered wooden cutlery and indigenous-inspired pillows. But don’t think vivid colours often associated with Mexican design; Onora’s contemporary palette comprises shades of white, black, grey and beige. As a revered design studio in CDMX Mexico City, Onora collaborates with talented artisans from across the city and nation. Together, Onora’s design shamans use ancient craft techniques to reimagine decorative and utilitarian objects that reflect Mexico’s cultural complexities while striking the perfect balance between innovation and tradition. Whether they’re dishes, table runners, bed linens, pillows or candle holders, Onora’s collections tell the story of a multifarious Mexican cultural identity through a contemporary voice. Read our full review of Onora for more insights into what’s on offer.

Set inside the spectacular Córdoba 25 renovated mansion turned boutique shopping mall, Apartment 25 is a carefully curated clothing store with owners who handpick each and every garment, whether it’s from a luxury brand in Europe or an emerging CDMX Mexico City homegrown designer. The boutique’s interior décor is deliberately minimal, placing the spotlight on the bold colours and prints of its clothing range. Less targeted to the shy types, Apartment 25’s clothes make a loud and proud statement. Most collections are for men, with an emphasis on high-end artistic streetwear, but there are some handpicked garments for women, too. Featured brands at Apartment 25 include Richer Poorer, Opening Ceremony, Shades of Grey by Micah Cohen, and Lazy Oaf. All brands found at Apartment 25 share the ethos of love, equality and respect. Even if you don’t purchase anything, stopping by this distinctive Ciudad de México boutique will prove to be a memorable experience.

Located in the upscale Polanco neighbourhood of CDMX Mexico City, Stendhal Store is a concept store that rejects a world of fashion based on gender, instead specialising in urban, minimalist and – most importantly – androgynous clothing.

As well as being highly sought-after fashion items for both men and women, Stendhal Store’s garments are perfect for any occasion thanks to their sleek designs. Most clothes are sourced from innovative Mexican brands like The Pack, 1/8 Takamura, Mancandy, Agüero and Ocelote, but you’ll also see pieces collected from further adrift by names including Eleven Paris, Ready to Die, Marmanuel and Jeffrey Campbell. Aiming to provide shoppers with an experience rather than just a destination, Stendhal Store’s founding sisters Gladys and Regina Vega have paid attention to the finer details of their boutique’s atmosphere, from the aroma and lighting to the strategically chosen music.

A shopping destination, library, restaurant, café and historical landmark, Tetetlán is a one-of-a-kind cultural complex and a focal point of the emblematic Jardines del Pedregal neighbourhood of Ciudad de México. Situated in an old stable block beside the restored house of prized architect Luis Barragán, Tetetlán now houses a variety of community-focused local markets and stores, all of which do their part to promote the native heritage of Mexico and traditional Mexican crafts.

While exploring Tetetlán and Jardines del Pedregal, you’ll see restaurants serving creative dishes using locally sourced organic ingredients, a far cry from most of the big-name fast food chains in CDMX Mexico City. As well as the food court, you’ll see shops displaying rails of clothing crafted in Chiapas and Oaxaca. Head upstairs, and you’ll find a yoga studio overlooking a volcanic-rock garden. In Tetetlán’s centre, there’s a library spread over two floors, home to books donated from creatives and Barragán’s personal collection, plus a large selection of LP records and publications on architecture. For snacks and refreshments, order from the library’s delicious café. The man behind Tetetlán’s evolution is Cesar Cervantes, a contemporary art collector that’s also responsible for the renovation of Barragán’s house, Casa Pedregal. You can browse items donated by artist friends of Cervantes in Tetetlán’s library. Visit the restaurant to taste dishes brought to life by head chef Hugo Durán. It’s a tasty way to end a day of shopping in Mexico City.